BSc Forestry Course, Forest Science Degree

Nepal being a Country that is abundant in natural resources such as lush green forest is also a source of livelihood for many people to date. Besides harmonizing the ecosystems, the forest also provides the supply of fuel, consumer goods, construction materials, and metals and also is the root of water supply and storage. Students of Bachelor in Forestry Science graduate to become forest resource managers, conservationists, commerce and technology heads, and government officers of forestry resources in Nepal.

Overview

Bachelor of Science in Forestry is an undergraduate program offered by national Universities in Nepal to provide knowledge with the study, management, and economic side of forestry resources in our Country. It also deals with the conservation of forests and environmental protection including wildlife from the study of full-time Bachelor of Science in Forestry from concerned Colleges and Universities in academic courses for the students.

BSc Forestry Course in Nepal 

5.96 million hectares of land area in Nepal are covered by lush green forests and wildfires inhabitants. The manpower to manage, conserve, and balance the natural resources these wildlife hold is an important asset for the country.

The first initiative by the Government of Nepal to provide study in Forestry and produce educated and skilled human resources in this sector was started by the Nepal Forestry Institute and was founded in 1947. Later, it became the Institute of Forestry (IOF), and in July 1972, the department went to merge under the wings of Tribhuvan University.

IOF started providing a three-year BSc Forestry course. From 1995 onwards, the program expanded to a 4- years full-time study program for the students of this program.

Progressively, from 2010, Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) was also established. Then, again Far-West University also started their BSc Forestry course from 2080 BS. Now this program is accessible to many students of different regions of Nepal who want to graduate and start a career path in the forestry sector of Nepal.

Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Tribhuvan University (TU) Purbanchal University (PU), and Far-west University (FWU) are the principal bodies offering the Bachelor of Science in Forestry program of three to four years of full-time study with specialization study areas.

General Information

To study the Bachelor of Science in Forestry program the prospective new students will have to take entrance exams which are used to determine candidates' knowledge, skills, and common aptitudes that are relevant for studying this program in Nepal.

As compared to BSc Agriculture, forestry courses are taught in fewer universities. The number of seats available for this degree is also comparatively low. So is the case with the seats available for the degree.

Let us look closely at the table below to learn about the colleges, seats, and credit hours of the BSc Forestry courses of respective universities.

Universities	No. of Seats	No. of Colleges	Credit Hours
AFU	199	3	165
TU	210	3	140
PU	48	1	165
FWU	40	1	~160

Going over the curriculum we can see that students are provided with different aspects of the field of forest science that help in resource management. It covers wide subjects such as forest science and related topics. 

Some of the topics involved in the syllabus of BSc forestry course are

• Forest ecology, botany, statistics, geology, engineering, and protection.
• Silviculture
• Biodiversity
• Soil science
• Natural resource management
• Agroforestry

After graduating from the BSc forestry course students will be well educated in all these subjects. They will also gain knowledge through field visits, research, training and internships in some cases. 

Objective of BSc Forestry

The general objective of the Bachelor of Science Forestry program studies in Nepalese Universities and Colleges in Nepal is to gain knowledge and competency to efficiently manage, use, and preserve forests and forestry resources sustainability for a healthier environment and sustainable living of people close by. Besides being able to make a career in forestry they can also become a researcher for various organizations in Nepal as well:

Let's see the objectives of studying Bachelor of Science in Forestry program discussed below:-

• To address the country's present forestry and environmental resource requirements and interests.
• To train an individual to become knowledgeable and practical professional foresters and effective natural resource managers.
• To improve the academic environment and encourage students to advance their professional careers.
• To promote research initiatives that can deal with the real-world issues encountered in the forestry sector.
• To introduce students to the policies and laws related to environmental resources. 
• To teach students ways and ideas for habitat preservation.

Eligibility of BSc Forestry

If you are among those who realize the importance of forest and environmental conditions and want to get qualifications and enter the relevant careers in forestry sectors in Nepal then you will need these requirements to study the Bachelor of Science Forestry programs from Universities providing this program:

Tribhuvan University:-

Students must have completed either Plus2 Science, Diploma in Forestry, ISc with 50 percent marks and appear to pass the entrance exam administered by the Institute of Forestry to be selected for new session intake in the Bachelor of Science in Forestry program of TU.

Purbanchal University:-

Candidate must have passed Plus2 Science, A level or equivalent with major subjects Biology and Mathematics or Diploma in Forestry program for any recognized body from Purbanchal University with 50 percent marks or GPA 2.40 or C+ aggregate scores/grades to study this program from Colleges of Purbanchal University BSc Forestry program in Nepal.

Agriculture Forestry University:-

Candidates should submit an online application form to the official website of Agriculture and Forestry University should have passed Higher secondary level or Plus 2 and SEE also which carry 10 percent weightage each and must appear and pass an entrance exam conducted by Agriculture and Forestry University of 80 percent weight. Selection for the new intake of BSc Forestry will be done according to merit basis.

Far Western University:-

Should have passed Plus2 in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics as major subjects or a Diploma in Forestry with 50 percent aggregate marks or C+ grades to be eligible for studying BSc Forestry at Far Western University Colleges in Nepal.

Scope of BSc Forestry

The BSc Forestry course provides individuals with an insight into various aspects of forest science and resources management. The program prepares them for different career prospects in the related field. 

Here are some scopes of the BSc Forestry Course: -

• Natural Resource Manager: The BSc Forestry course graduates can work as natural resource managers. In this job, they will be responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining different policies and plans to manage the ecosystem.
• Wildlife Management: Wildlife is an integral part of the forest. They have to be protected and conserved to maintain the balance in forests. The BSc Forestry course passouts can work in the field of wildlife management.
• Silviculture: The degree holders can pursue their career as silviculturists. They will be responsible for the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands.
• Arboriculture: There are so many endangered trees that need  monitoring and care. The BSc Forestry scholars can work as arboriculturists. 
• NGOs/INGOs: Different NGOs/INGOs hire forest science degree holders to work in the field of forest preservation, promotion and even afforestation. The graduates can work for those kinds of organizations as a part of their career. 
• Forest Range Officer: Forest range officer is a government job for the BSc forestry passouts. They will be responsible for forest conservation and management. 
• Researcher: The forest science degree holders can work as a researcher. They can oversee the research projects and collect the data required to improve the forest health and improve the overall ecosystem. 
• Academia: The graduates can pursue their education and receive a master’s degree in the field of forest science. They can also spread their knowledge to the new generation by teaching in the colleges. 

Admission Requirement for BSc Forestry

Students of Bachelor of Science Forestry in their study period need to have attended 80% theory classes and also practical classes in each subject to appear for the final exams. If not they will not be allowed to sit for end end-year exam conducted by respective Universities.

Some Key Details about the Entrance Examination:-

• The type of questions asked is objective. 
• Questions will be asked in the following subjects: physics, chemistry, mathematics, English, zoology, botany, forest science, and general knowledge.
• To secure a seat, students must score at least 50% of the full marks.
• When generating the merit list for the scholarship, the test score will be taken into account.

You may be required to submit the following documents as part of the admissions procedure if you get accepted for a BSc Forestry course.

• Marksheet, character, and proof certificate of SEE/ SLC
• Transcript, mark sheet and migration, and character certificate of 10+2 or any equivalent course
• Copy of citizenship

Graduation Requirement

Students of Bachelor of Science Forestry in their study period need to have attended 80% theory classes and also practical classes in each subject to appear for the final exams. If not they will not be allowed to sit for end end-year exam conducted by respective Universities.

The university will provide a BSc Forestry degree to those students who,

• Completes the credit hours as prescribed. 
• Have a minimum passing grade in each course.

Fee Structure

The fee structure of studying a BSc Forestry course is similar to the cost of a BSc Agriculture. The minimum approximate amount for this degree is NPR 2,50,000 which is often the fee of the government-funded colleges. 

Studying it in private colleges can be expensive. It ranges from NPR 5,00,00 to 11,00,000. 

Those who have secured the full scholarships shouldn’t pay the tuition fee. So, students are encouraged to secure good enough marks to secure it. 

The table below showcases the approximate fee structure of different universities.

Universities	Approximate fee structure (In NPR)
	Minimum	Maximum
AFU	2,50,000	8,00,00
TU	2,50,000	9,00,000
PU	3,00,000	11,00,000
FWU	3,00,000	5,00,000

Please be aware that the cost of a BSc Forestry course in Nepal can vary depending on the college, and the above-mentioned fees are only an approximate value. 

Scholarships

The Nepal Government ensures that capable students and pupils from different backgrounds get scholarships while pursuing their higher education in any field. This holds for the BSc Forestry course too. 

Each university in Nepal that provides the BSc Forestry course allocates a certain number of seats for scholarships as per the government’s rules and policies. They are either quota-based or open. 

The detail about the scholarship seats concerning the university is provided in the table below. 

Type of Seats	AFU	TU	PU	FWU
Total Available	199	210	48	40
Total Scholarship	109	68	3	19
Open Scholarship	75	49	2	9
Quota Scholarship	34	19	1	10
Paying	90	142	45	21